Four insurance companies sued the California Department of Insurance, claiming the agency has become "increasingly aggressive" in its efforts to enforce the state's Unfair Insurance Practices Act.

The companies say the department is trying to enforce the UPA beyond the scope of the original statute, by wanting to impose "millions of dollars in monetary penalties" against insurance companies.

In statute form, the UPA outlines 16 unfair claims settlement practices that companies must avoid in order to be compliant with the law. Prohibited practices include misrepresenting pertinent facts or policy revisions to clients, compelling insured clients to pursue litigation to recover amounts due, and attempting to settle a claim for less than a "reasonable" amount.

But the four plaintiffs known as the Torchmark group of companies said the department has been adding to the original 16 practices, creating 25 "categories of acts" that outline specific conduct to be followed or prohibited in the settlement of claims.

The Torchmark group includes Globe Life and Accident Insurance Company, American Income Life Insurance Company, United American Insurance Company and United Investors Life Insurance Company and is represented in the suit by Robert Hogeboom of the Los Angeles firm Hinshaw & Culbertson.

READ MORE at Courthouse News Service